Standard Operating Procedure for Epidemiological Surveillance and
Response in the context of New Variant of SARS-CoV-2 Virus Detected in UK
[MoH&FW Press Release/23.12.2020]
A new variant of SARS- CoV
2 virus [Variant under Investigation (VUI)-20212/01] has been reported by the Government
of United Kingdom (UK) to World Health Organization (WHO). This variantis estimated by European Center for Disease Control (ECDC)
to be more transmissible and affecting younger population. This variant is defined
by a set of 17 changes or mutations. One of the most significant is an N501Y mutation
in the spike protein that the virus uses to bind to the human ACE2 receptor. Changes
in this part of the spike protein may result in the virus becoming more infectious
and spreading more easily between people.
Ministry of Health has issued SOP for Epidemiological
Surveillance and Response for the same. The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) describes
the activities to be undertaken at the point of entry and in the community for all
International passengers who have travelled from or transited through UK in the
past 4 weeks (from 25th November to 23rd December 2020). Any
reference to testing in this SOP implies RT-PCR testing only.
The flights from UK are suspended temporarily from
23rd December till 31st December 2020 or till further orders. All the passengers
travelling from or transiting through airports in UK and disembarking in India during
the intervening period from 21st to 23rd December 2020 would be subjected to RT-PCR
test on arrival. In case of a positive sample, it is recommended that spike gene-based
RT-PCR test should also be performed. Passengers testing positive will be isolated
in an institutional isolation facility in a separate (isolation) unit coordinated
by the respective State Health Authorities. Necessary action to send the samples
to National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune or any other appropriate lab for genomic
sequencing will be initiated at the facility level. If the genomic sequencing indicates
the presence of new variant of SARS-CoV-2 then the patient will be kept in the separate
isolation unit and treated as per the clinical protocol.
Those who are found negative on testing with RT-PCR
at the airport would be advised quarantine at home. Prior to check-in, the traveler
will be explained about this SOP and In-flight announcements must also be made.
Those international travelers from UK who arrived
in India since last one month will be contacted by District Surveillance Officers
and monitored in community.
State Governments/ Integrated Disease Surveillance
Programme will ensure that all the contacts of those travelers
from UK or transiting through UK in last four weeks will be traced and monitored.
They will also be tested as per protocol and contacts of positive cases would be
subjected to institutional quarantine in separate quarantine centers for effective
isolation and monitoring.